Harvesting Peppers with AI? “Tsinghua Expertise” Fuels Rural Revitalization in Yanggu

LIAOCHENG, China, Sept. 4, 2025 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

“Another cohort of Tsinghua University students recently arrived in the rural areas of Yanggu County. By leveraging their professional knowledge and field research, they injected ‘Tsinghua Expertise’ into local revitalization efforts, ranging from specialty industry upgrades to cultural tourism development,” said Kong Ming, deputy secretary of Yanggu County Communist Youth League Committee, on Sept. 1. Since 2022, the Tsinghua Rural Revitalization Workstation has organized over 120 students across seven practice missions to Yanggu.

As the county’s economic pillar, Yanggu chili industry produces over 7,000 tons of dried chili peppers annually, with exports to Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. With the newly planned 10,000-mu chili industrial park, optimizing layout and extending industrial chains have become crucial in advancing rural revitalization. Shi Haopeng, a student from the Energy and Power Engineering Department, Tsinghua University, led his team in conducting research in Litai Town, compiling an industrial chain analysis that proposed technical upgrades and deep processing solutions – recommendations now embraced by local communities.

At the Wangshenlou Village Party branch-led cooperative of Litai Town, the “chili-wheat intercropping” model has achieved remarkable yields – 500 kg wheat and 400 kg chili per mu, generating over 10,000 yuan in profit per mu. However, challenges such as talent shortages and inconsistent cultivation standards persist. To address them, students not only recommended standardized planting protocols but also trained villagers in AI-assisted farming techniques. Current efforts focus on branding strategies to expand Yanggu chili’s market reach. 

In addition to empowering specialty industries, Tsinghua students are also delving into Yanggu’s cultural tourism resources by creating tailored cultural products for the Lion Tower Scenic Area. Pu Zhengsheng, a student in urban planning, led his team to approach this project from a youthful perspective. They integrated Water Margin culture with creative and engaging elements to revitalize traditional narratives. The designed “Wu Song” collectible figurine combines majesty with charm, while the series of IP characters that blend Water Margin heroes with local cultural features embody both cultural depth and contemporary aesthetic appeal.

Source: Information Office of Yanggu County People’s Government